Tadahiro Nomura: mind, skill, body PART 2

In PART 1 interview with Tadahiro Nomura, you could find out the things that probably shocked you. Probably you could not imagine that it was not always fun for him to fight on tatami, but still, he managed to win three historical Olympic Gold medals. Atlanta was “body”, Sydney was “skill” and Athens was “mind”. We hope so that you will enjoy in PART 2 of interview with the best one in the judo history.

--- So you were depressed by “pride” rather than pressure?

Nomura:

Yes, you can say that. Even I was expected much harder condition of my new challenge, I was nervous and hurry to appeal people that 2 times Olympic Gold medalist must win all ippon on tatami. For the first time, it was a good exercise for people that Nomura had 2 years of blank, away from Judo but but people were not stupid. They already noticed how bad I was. I was already afraid of standing on tatami then. I felt shame and miserable. I didn’t like Judo.

--- How did you overcome that slump?

Nomura:

I tried to think like this, it was totally my decision that going to Athens. Nobody pushed me to do it, so now it’s hard time but there would be a time, there would be a chance.. It was a shame as the man to give up the decision that I took 2 years. I wanted to give up everything but somehow I was so sure that I would regret for rest of my life if I give up my decision at that time. The biggest thing what I had to change was my “arrogance” that my Judo should be beautiful and finishing ippon rather than the way of training or physical condition. I lost many times already, and people were disappointed and even sympathy to me. Fortunately I could lose all of my previous pride. I noticed it is important to perform the ability as much as possible on tatami no matter how dirty and ugly it is.

--- So dose it mean you have faced to your weaker side of yourself that you were trying to avoid?

Nomura:

Well, when I looked back my childhood, I was extremely skinny, weak and crying many times beaten by girls. Even my father told me that I don’t have to continue Judo anymore. From that memory, I realized that actually I did a good job! (2 Olympic Gold medals) lol I felt much released and better mentally. Anyway everybody will have the day that must be retired as the active athlete. It’s just the matter of time. I decided to throw out my pride and my medals for next medal.

--- And you are still an active athlete as -60kg Judoka, will you continue challenging?

Nomura:

I think I do know how hard Judo is, so I can not easily say to people that I want to get another Olympic medal. However I don’t feel that it is the time to retire at this point, either. I started to think much deeply about Judo and myself now days than when I used to beating all others by ippon.

MEDAL OVERVIEW

--- So how is your Judo different when you are 20th and 30th?

Nomura:

There is a difference. I was much more in the training and physically prepared without quite understand theory of techniques. Now I am 40 years old and training with young 20 years old students. And I am trying to think how to perform my Judo without spoiling my long experience and technique. But it is very difficult. Actually I don’t have much coaches or friends anymore to ask the advice based on my age, physical trauma, technique, and etc. Coaches can give me advice based on their experience, but nobody who is 40 years old is still -60kg active athlete in Judo. 

--- It sounds quite logical that people can not understand and support your level, doesn’t it?

Nomura:

Actually none of coaches I know have such a special Judo career like me, so I feel they are quite uncomfortable to advice me. (smile)

--- By the way your famous word, “I am genius” which you often say on TV or media. Are you saying this to keep your motivation up?

Nomura:

Well… I don’t know, actually people around me start call me like that. Probably among some people I was well known as “training hater”. By the way I never went to Gym to build my muscle. Only uchikomi, nagekomi, randori and rope climbing. I never tried to drink protein powder or anything like that. But everytime when I ask them back, so do YOU love training? Everybody tell me, I don’t either. That means training hater, right? Some people think hating training = skip training! But it’s NOT! I do training. Anyway, I am calling myself genius, that’s why my Judo is not impressed by people anymore, right?

--- Haha, it’s not true. Your Judo is impressed.

Nomura: 

Since I met with my great coach in Tenri University, I could improve a lot of better way of training, and Judo. I realized it’s the most important thing to do my best just like the real competition in every single training. Also I have learned in order to be better and stronger; I must work even more from the point where I felt the limit of the body. So maybe it’s true that my training time is actually “shorter” than other Judokas. You can measure the time. But I am keep working on something you can not see, for example maximum effort, over the limitation of my body.  I do know that people might think about me like “for what you work that much?”  I still have the opportunity that I can feel my improvement in Judo even it’s much less than before when I was young. I feel very happy when I have that opportunity and there will be much less mistake if I am going on my way like this. I think myself like this at this point. I don’t want people to say to me that “Nomura is something special”.

--- By the way, are you interested in fashion? 

Nomura:

Well I do like clothes. I still remember why and from when. When I could get my 1st Olympic medal when I was university student, I had much more opportunity to show up in front of people and media. I was nervous to think what I should wear each time. Since then I started more interested in clothes, shoes, etc.. After my 3rd Olympic medal, I was selected as “best dresser man” in Japan. I felt like “why me?” lol 

--- Do you have any special clothes?

Yes, Judogi and suit is special for me. Judogi is my “work uniform” and the only clothes all the time with me while fighting on tatami. I always feel pressure in positive way when I wear Judogi. So it is too special for me. Second special clothe is suit. I don’t want to wear something ugly one, so I always wear only order made suit.

--- It seems that your taste of fashion is reflected in your stubborn personality?

Nomura:

I am always ordering my suit same store, but maybe that craftsman doesn’t like me much since I complain a lot. I want to wear the suit that can emphasize my Judoka’s muscle and body posture. It can be a big difference matter of kind of materials even they are same size, so I really order in such a small detail.

--- As you said before in this interview, you will have the day to retire Judo, so what do you want to do after then?

Nomura:

It is always excited for me to be a Judo coach, but I just want to find something fun.  Not only in Judo but several things, many people give up something from the failures and setbacks. I know it is not bad possibility to find another way, but I have seen many people that give up soon, and find something else again, but don’t get anything in the end. I do have a strong wish that I want to talk to young Judo starts about my experience, not only cool thing but failures and setbacks, etc. I was an ordinary Judo boy who was stumbled and could not get the result for long time. I was far from “elite” so I think I can understand well about the frustration from those millions ordinary Judo boys and girls. At the same time, I was on the top of Judoka for long time, so I do understand anguish as keep fighting on the top. And now I have had so many injuries, and situation of me is getting harder and harder especially physically. Well anyway what I want to say is that I have experienced from bottom to top, so I think I can be a good coach. It’s not because of “Nomura is special” but I have same experience as you!